About Me

My Journey to Publishing

I was always supposed to be a veterinarian. I spent my childhood surrounded by an academic culture. My friend’s parents were all lawyers, doctors, professors, and engineers. My home life was very different. As a first-generation college student, I watched my parents fight and work for the future they so desperately hoped I would achieve. I spent weekends at STEM retreats and weeknights studying and reviewing AP Biology. I loved animals, and my parents were proud to have a future doctor in the house.

But I discovered another passion- writing- between exams, extracurriculars, and volunteering with animals. I love to create new worlds and explore the complexity of the human experience through the eyes of others. I slowly spent less time reviewing cell structures and more time pouring over books, trying to learn more about the people around me and their lives. I wanted to learn about the world I lived in, how others experienced that world, and how our different experiences shaped our reality.

As I distanced myself from science, I discovered a natural talent for understanding and critically evaluating history. How did we, as a species, come to rule the world? How did we go from a rudimentary knowledge of fire to landing a man on the moon? Through my studies of the past, I’ve learned so much about human nature and the development of cultures. Through my study of literature, I’ve learned even more about the individuals that make up those cultures.

Changing a life-long dream isn’t easy, no matter how long that lifetime has been. As I transitioned my major from Animal Science to English and Classics, I’ve worked hard to explore and gain experience in different branches of Publishing, hoping to find a way to connect to other readers and book lovers worldwide.

Marketing & Writing Experience

Before leaving my old major, I applied for a job as a bookseller at an independent bookstore. This job was one of the best experiences of my career. I connected and interacted with book lovers and recommended books based on their interests. I helped plan and organize large-scale events for children, including a Harry Potter night that served over 200 kids from the area. I also co-hosted an author talk with New York Times best-selling authors Jennifer L. Armentrout and K.A. Tucker.

My first introduction to the writing field was a short stint at The Booklover’s Magazine, where I worked as a contributing writer. While writing articles and book reviews on the YA genre, I felt for the first time the passion that comes with doing something you love.

Editorial Experience

I gained valuable experience as an editor for Penn State’s Creative Arts Journal, Klio, in the Spring of 2022, where I co-established a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Initiative to highlight the works of genre literature across all Penn State campuses. I learned to work on a larger team, focusing on collaborating across committees to bring the magazine’s concept to life. I also learned how to lead a selection panel to evaluate and decide on story submissions. With my Co-Editor, we created the requirements and calls for submission for the new initiative, successfully gaining over 30 submissions for the magazine. I also learned how to produce and publish a podcast for an interview I conducted regarding the value of fantasy literature.

I also have an ongoing internship at the PseudoPod podcast, which highlights works of horror literature. Through this experience, I’ve gained even more insight into the editorial end of publishing. I’ve gained valuable experience learning how to objectively critique and evaluate genre literature regarding the themes and tropes of specific moments in time. I learned how to use the story submission software Moksha.